Module 9: The Conditional and The Biconditional: Antecedent and The Q Statement Is Called The Consequent
Module 9: The Conditional and The Biconditional: Antecedent and The Q Statement Is Called The Consequent
In any conditional statement represented by “If p, then q” or by “If p, q,” the p statement is called the
antecedent and the q statement is called the consequent.
a. “If our school was this nice, I would go there more than once a week.” —The Basketball Diaries
b. “If you don’t get in that plane, you’ll regret it.” —Casablanca
c. “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” —Obi-Wan
Kenobi, Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope
Solution
a. Antecedent: our school was this nice
Consequent: I would go there more than once a week
b. Antecedent: you don’t get in that plane
Consequent: you’ll regret it
c. Antecedent: you strike me down
Consequent: I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine
To determine the truth table for 𝑝 → 𝑞, consider the advertising slogan for a web authoring software product
that states, “If you can use a word processor, you can create a webpage.” This slogan is a conditional
statement. The antecedent is p, “you can use a word processor,” and the consequent is q, “you can create a
webpage.” Now consider the truth value of 𝑝 → 𝑞 for each of the following four possibilities.
Page | 1
Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
You can use a word processor, but you cannot create a webpage. In this case the advertisement is false. We put
an F in place of the question mark in row 2 of the table.
Enter the truth values for each simple statement and its negation as shown in columns 1, 2, 3, and 4. Use the truth
values in columns 2 and 3 to determine the truth values to enter in column 5, under the “or” connective. Use the
truth values in columns 1 and 5 to determine the
truth values to enter in column 6 under the “and”
connective. Use the truth values in columns 6 and 4
to determine the truth values to enter in column 7
under the “If . . . then” connective.
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
In each case we write the disjunction of the negation of the antecedent and the consequent.
a. I cannot play the guitar or I would join the band.
b. Cam Newton can play or his team will lose.
c.
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero
Aurora State College of Technology
GE4: Mathematics in the Modern Word
a. They paid me the money and I did not sign the contract.
b. The lines are parallel and they intersect.
THE BICONDITIONAL
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Instructor: Neil B. Montero